Game apparatus



(No Model.) 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. GAMMETER. GAMB APPARATUS.

Patented Aug.5, 1890. lign?.

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NUNJTOR wrm msm (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. F. GAMMETER. f GAME APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

j', VIC/E'Nfa ZJTTNEKSQS Y mm1/7 @I M? AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND GAMMETER, oF sr. Louis, MIsso'URI.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming partbf Letters lPatent No. 433,676', dated August 5, 1890.

Application filed May 9, 1890.

To cZZZ whom zr mag/ concerm Be 1t known that I, FERDINAND GAMMETER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at the means of a top which is adjusted foi-spinning against a bracket or abutment fixed in the box or tray, all substantially as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, aided by the'annexed drawings, making part of this specification, and in whichm Figure l represents a plan in section, on line l l in Fig. 3, of my improved game apparatus with the top adjusted for spinning; Fig. 2, a similar view thereof after the top has been spun and released; Fig. 3, a transverse section on line 3 3 in Fig. l; Fig. 4, a detail plan, to an enlarged scale, of the bracket or abutment forming part of my invention, with the top in position against the'same; Fig. 5, a front view thereof, omitting the handle seen in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6, a transverse section on line 6 6 in Fig. 4.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures. V f Y a represents a box or tray, which may be rectangular, square, oval, or of any other desired configuration, but preferably rectangular, having four upright sides, as shown.

Across the box or .tray a, preferably adjacent and parallel to its rear end, is xed an upright division-wall b, which may be ornamented according to fancy, and divides the tray a into two compartments l 2, which communicate with each other by, preferably, two openings c, formed at a suitable distance apart, through the division-wall Z9 on a level with and extending upward from the tray CZ.

Within the compartment l, adjacent to the division-Wall l) and midway between the two openings c, is a third compartment 3, which is preferably square, but may be of any other desirable shape. The compartment `3 communicates with the compartment 1 by three Serial No. 351,179. (No model.)

`openings (Z, which are formed, in a similar lmanner to the openings c, centrally through Vthe three sides of the-compartment 3, resp'ectively opposite to the front end and adjacent sides of the box or tray a. On the latter, within the compartment l, are placed the upright movable pins e, Figs. 1 and 3, which may be of any desired number and arrangement, but preferably five, located on spots or marks f corresponding to the corners and center of a square or diamond at. the middle portion, or thereabouts, of the compartment l. Within the compartment 2 are arranged, say, three pins c', in line with each other along the middle of the compartment 2- (transversely to the box or tray a) between the openings c inthe divisioirwall b. Centrally within the compartment 3 is placed, say, one pin e2 Against the front upright end of the box or tray d, within the compartment l, is xed an upright bracket or abutment, which may be of any desired construction, b'ut preferably composed of two parallel and corresponding top and bottom platesg g', which project horizontally from the said end of thebox or tray a to a suitable distance within the latter, their extreme projecting edges which face the front side of the compartment 3 having vertical concave grooves h. The platesg g are maintained at a suitable distance apart, preferably by a distance-piece t', which extends only part way toward the grooves 7L, so as to leave a space j thereat between the plates g g', for the purpose vhereinafter referred to.

Vertically through the top plate g, and for a suitable depth into the distance-piece t' and front upright end of the box or tray u, is formed a slot or cleft Zr., which extends from the outside of the said end of the box or tray a to the groove h of the top plate g, and the space ,j beneath the center line of the cleft 7c being in line with the center of the grooves h and longitudinal center of the box or tray a.

Below the slot k, within the front upright end of the box or tray a, is xed a tube Z, having through its upper portion a longitudinal slot m, which is coincident with the slot k, the tube Z being open at its ends and' constituting practically an enlarged continuation of the slot 7c. The tube Z projects somewhat beyond the outside of the said end of the box or tray d, and is provided thereat IOO with a latch fn, which is hinged to the box or tray a, and allowed to fall across orbe raised from the slot m, as desired.

I use in combination with the bracket or abutment above described a spinning-top, which preferably consists of a circular disk 0, having a central circular shank or stem o', around which may be Wound, but not iixed a string or cord p, provided at its free end with a handle q.

In operation, the latch n being first raised clear of the slot m of the tube Z, and the string p Wound around the shank o of the top o', the latter is placed with its disk o uppermost and its shank o in an upright position against the grooves hof the plates g-g,

with the free end of the shank 0 resting upon the tray ct. -Thefree end portion of the string p is then fassed through the slot Zt into the tube Z, so that the handle q is on the outside of the box or tray a, and the latch n dropped across the slot m, Which thereby prevents the rising of the stringp from the tube Z. The top o o being then held sufficiently only to steady it against the abutment, is spun by pulling` on the string p by its handle q with more or less force outward from the tray a, until the string p leaves the top o o', when the latter is thereby released and projected by the centrifugal force imparted thereto along the tray a in various directions-as, for example, in the direction indicated by the broken circles-so as to knock down three of the pins e in the compartment l, and from the latter entering compartment 3 through the front opening CZ, so as to knock down pin e2,

When it passes out through the side opening (Z, and finally falls to rest in a corner of the compartment 1 adjacent t-o the division-Wall l), and so on, with different results, sometimes entering kthe compartment 2 by one of the openings c and therein knocking down one or more of the pins e before it falls to rest. If desired, the pins e e. e2 may be rated and the spots fcorrespondingly numbered at different values according to their respective locations and chances of being knocked down by the top. The string@ may be Wound around thev shank o of the top 0 o to the right or left hand, freedom therefor being allowed by the space j beneath lthe top plate g. y

I claim as my invention*- The combination of a box or tray contain ing pins to be knocked down and a bracket or abutment composed preferably of platesg g', having grooves hand distance piece t', the said abutment being fixed against the front upright end of the tray and having a slot 7c in line with the longitudinal center of the tray, a tube Z, fixed in the said end of the tray and having a slot m communicating With the slot 7c, and a latch n, with a spinning-top having the free end portion of its string plocated .Within the tube Z and provided With a handle q on the outside of the tray, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

Vitness my hand this 7th day of May, 1890.

FERDINAND GAMMETER.

Witnesses:

C. D. MOODY, A. GAMMETER. Y 

